If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

round bench dogs

Anyone here make their own round bench dogs? What kind of system did you use to keep the dogs in place. I've found plenty of examples of home made square dogs, but I'm not having much luck with round. I like the veritas ones, but if I can make some of my own it'll make buying a hold down a little easier to swallow... ;)

I prefer the square top /round peg Dogs , Even though round one have been A-round for a long time (sorry for the pun) I have some steel ones and from time to time I need additional (wide pieces) You could get a square of wood and drill a 3/4" hole in the piece and glue a peg to form a square Dog with round peg.

Bill beat me to it, but that's how I've made them for years. Piece of dowel with a square piece of wood at the top. You can use different thicknesses of wood depending on what the dog is for, holding things or planing for example.

those look good Frank
right now i'm just using 3/4 inch hardwood dowel in a 3/4 inch hole, not drilled all the way thru my new 1 3/4 inch maple top
they fit a bit snug at first, but as you beat em to work em loose they get easier
I know I need somthing better but for now I don't want to spend till i figure out what I really want/need
just using a quick grip clamp as a hold down as well

I'm sure a salvage yard could yield some round bar stock in mild steel for the dog's. As for how to old them up just copy someone's idea of attaching a piece of spring steel. Even large old bolts might work quite well. I rarely clamp anything to bench to plane it much prefer to use wooden stop. My technique improved alot the minute I stopped clamping down everything.

I rarely clamp anything to bench to plane it much prefer to use wooden stop. My technique improved alot the minute I stopped clamping down everything.

AMEN. I stopped wanting to put real vises on my bench a while ago. Even for jointing I use a piece of wood with a V-cut and a wedge to hold boards almost exclusively, except for really wide boards.
I'm curious Jim, why metal benchdogs? Don't they just risk dinging a workpiece or a tool?